McLaren IndyCar star Patricio ‘Pato’ O’Ward has been confirmed for the 24 Hours of Daytona as a driver in the #2 United Autosports Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2.
The 24-year-old Mexican driver will chase his third victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona with United Autosports, at the 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-opener.
He will make his fourth appearance at the historic endurance race with teammates Ben Keating, Ben Hanley and Nico Pino.
“We have been trying to get Pato in a United Autosports car for a while now,” said Richard Dean, United Autosports CEO.
“After a few false starts, finally we have our man.
“Pato brings experience as a Daytona race winner and is just plain fast in everything he drives.
“I would like to thank everyone at the Arrow McLaren IndyCar Team for helping make this happen.”
O’Ward will be the third McLaren-contracted driver to race for United Autosports, since the 2018 race gave current F1 star Lando Norris and Aston Martin F1 driver Fernando Alonso a maiden opportunity to debut in sportscar racing.
His full IMSA WeatherTech season in 2017 saw him become the youngest driver to win the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring – at 17-years-old – before claiming the Prototype Challenge (PC) Championship title after a dominant run of seven consecutive wins and a podium during the eight-round campaign.
He returned with Performance Tech Motorsports in 2018 in what became the Prototype (P) class, but in an Oreca 07-Gibson LMP2 machine, followed by his 2022 Daytona 24 appearance when he won his second (LMP2) class-victory in the Oreca 07.
O’Ward will eye out a third victory with United Autosports, contesting against 11 other LMP2 competitors for the honour on 27-28 January.
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